Hawaii
Girl Scouts honors 4
isle women execsYOU don't think that the role of the woman has been elevated in recent years? Look at the honorees of the Girl Scouts at its "Women of Distinction." All four are bank execs: Bennette Evangelista (Central Pacific Sr. VP), Connie Lau (CEO American Savings), Donna Tanoue (Vice-Chair, Bank of Hawaii) and Lily Yao (Vice-Chair of First Hawaiian Bank). Special Honoree was Gladys Brandt, one of 10 women named "National Women of Distinction" at the Girl Scouts' 90th birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. Honorary dinner chairman was Bank of Hawaii CEO Mike O'Neill, who, once having shown his ID to Girl Scout Marissa Lee to prove he was 18, was made a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts ... Retired adman Norm Blackburn wasn't able to come over to see the Wynton Marsalis concert, but got lucky and caught the jazzman in a concert in his new hometown, Santa Rosa, Calif.
IT'S time once again for "Sunset Jazz," the picnic and party at La Pietra's Great Lawn, with music by singers Jimmy Borges and Shari Lynn with Fascinatin' Rhythm and guest star Gabe Baltazar. The picnic costs $30 and includes dessert, wine, coffee and soft drinks, as well as the music. The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. ... Retired isle adman Norm Blackburn wasn't able to come over to see the Wynton Marsalis concert, but got lucky and caught the jazzman in a concert in his new hometown, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Beamer me up
USUALLY when Keola Beamer visits Waimea, it's to sing, play slack-key guitar or visit relatives -- seems like half the Big Isle community is related to the Beamer clan. But tomorrow, Keola will be at Cook's Discoveries in Waimea from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to autograph copies of "The Shimmering," a just-off-the-press first collection of his self-published short stories. After wrapping up a whirlwind book-signing weekend, Keola is off on a nine-city West Coast tour ...
Sir Paul and Kong
WHEN former isle DJ Kamasami Kong e-mailed his report on emceeing a party for Paul McCartney in Osaka, he sounded like a dreamy schoolboy. He writes, "Paul and his huge military-precision-like entourage are gone now, and all that remains are dreamlike memories of having encountered something, someone very special in the history of civilization."He then waxed eloquent for 10 more pages. Some 80,000 attended each of two concerts the ex-Beatle performed in Osaka. About 100 attended the party in the Ritz-Carlton's Presidential Suite. No cameras were allowed except McCartney's. "Paul and Heather casually walked in with such little fanfare that I almost didn't notice. Then it hit me: 'That's Paul -- standing right over there! We're in the same room, alone, with him and his wife.' It was a heady experience."
When McCartney approached and held out his hand, he said, "How ya doin', mate. I'm Paul and this is my wife, Heather." Kong wanted to say, "Well, duh."
It was a hell of a party, Kong said. "I've seen heads of state stay in this hotel, but have never seen security as tight as it was at this party. The entire second floor of the hotel was completely blocked off." If you have a few hours to spare, ask Kong how the party went ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com